Liquid feed device



1934- P. B. RENFREW I LIQUID FEED DEVICE Filed June 28, 1930 2 Sheets-Sheet l 27, 1934- v P. B. RENFREW LI UIb FEED DEVICE Filed Juhe 28, 1930 2 sheets sheet 2 Ill Patented Nov. 27, 1934 UNITED STATES LIQUID FEED DEVICE Paul B. Renfrew, Fort Wayne, Ind., assignor to S. F. Bowser & Company, Inc., Fort Wayne, Ind., a corporation of Indiana Application June 28, 1930, Serial No. 464,567

21 Claims.

My invention relates to liquid feed devices particularly adapted for use in liquid feeding systems through which the liquid is adapted to be forced under pressure, and one of the objects of my invention is to provide a simple means actuated by the liquid flow for positively feeding very minute quantities of liquids to a desired point while at the same time maintaining a feed line through which the liquid is fed free from obstructing deposits.

Another object of the invention is the provision of improved and eflicient operating mechanism for a needle valve which Will enable the latter to dispense a variable amount of liquid over a wide range and when adjusted to deliver a predetermined quantity of liquid will continue to deliver such quantity consistently over a long period of time or until another adjustment is made, thus giving proper liquid feed distribution.

Another object of my invention resides in its adaptation to a lubricating system including a hydraulically actuated rotating lubricating valve which will stop the flow of lubricant from the valve when the machine which it is lubricating is stopped and thus minimize the use of the lubricant.

A further object of the invention is the pro vision of a fluid pressure rotated valve which will be automatically opened when the machine being lubricated is started.

Another object of the invention is the provision of simple and eflicient means for adapting a feed head for operation in a continuous flow liquid system or an intermittent flow liquid system whereby the flow of the liquid from the feed head will begin when the flow in the system begins and the flow will be cut off when the flow in the system discontinues.

A further object of the invention is the provision of simple and eflicient means for rotating and lifting the needle valve of a head by the flow of the liquid therethrough and thus assure consistent feed of the liquid from the lubricator head.

A further object of the invention is the provision of improved and eflicient means for operating and controlling a valve adapted to be opened and closed, to secure a very small quantity of discharge of liquid.

Another object of the invention is the provision of micrometer adjusting means to regulate the extent of opening of the valve by the flow of liquid through the device.

Other objects of the invention will appear hereinafter, the novel features and combinations be-- ing set forth in the appended claims.

In the accompanying drawings Fig. 1 is a sectional elevation of a feed head embodying my improvements; '60

Fig. 2 is a sectional elevation of the lower portion' of the body of the head with the rotating elements shown in elevation;

Fig. 3 is an elevational view similar to Fig. 1, but embodying a modification;

Fig. 4 is a sectional elevation of the micrometer adjustment to regulate the extent'of opening of the needle valve; and

Fig. 5 is a diagrammatic view of a liquid circulating system in which my improved: head may 7 be used. I

In Fig. 1, 6 designates the cylindrical body of the feed head having an'inlet port at 7 and an outlet port at 8. A nipple 9 may be secured to the inlet port 7 and a nipple 10 may be secured to 5 the outlet port 8 as shown.

The nut or screw-threaded cap 11 may be screw threaded into the lower end of the cylindrical body 6 and this cap has formed integral therewith the cylinder 12 to afford the annularrecess 13 opposite the inlet port 7.

At the upper end of the cylinder 12 and integral therewith is the guide vane member 14 having a plurality of upwardly extending diagonal vanes 15, 15. These vanes fit closely against the inner cylindrical wall of the body 6 and thus form a plurality of diagonally extending passage ways 16, 16.

At the center of the cap 11 is a valve seat 17 frusto-conical in shape to receive the needle valve 18 correspondingly shaped to fit the seat 17 when the valve is in itslowermost position or closed. Extending from the lower end of the needle valve 18 is a cylindrical extension 19, the-lower end of which may be horizontal as shown in Figs. 1 and 2 or pointed as shown in Fig. 3.

Connected to the top of the valve 18 by means of the stem 20 is a cylinder 21, the cylindrical surface of which is provided with a spiral groove 22 of such cross-sectional area as to restrict the passage of oil and other liquid and permit only a small rate of flow of oil downwardly from the chamber 23 to the chamber 24. The liquid continues downwardly from the chamber 24 along the valve 18 through the nozzle 38 to drip from the extension 19, the flow or delivery being regulated by adjusting the distance between the valve 18 and the valve seat 17.

Extending upwardly from the spiral grooved cylinder 21, is a valve stem 25 of less diameter no than the cylinder 21 to afford an annular shoulder 26 for tlfllrotor 27 to rest upon in spaced-apart relation with the upper side of the vane member 14. The rotor 27 is provided with a hub 28 ex tending from its upper side, which hub is secured rigidly to the valve stem 25 to rotate with the latter, by means of the pin 29.

The rotor 27 is provided with spacedapart diagonally extending vanes 30, the outer edges of which are loosely fitted relative to the inner cylindrical wall of the body 6 so as to have free rotation therein. It will be seen by referring to Fig. 2 that the diagonally extending vanes 30 extend in a direction opposite to the vanes 15 of the stationary vane member 14. It should also be understood that the rotor 27, the cylinder 21 and the valve 18 are connected together to form a rotating unit while the member 14l-v and the valve seat 17 always remain stationary.

Screw-threaded into the top of the cylindrical body 6 is a nut or cap 31 which is provided on its upper side with a screw-threaded extension 32 to receive the closing and protecting cap 33.

Screw-threaded through the center of the cap 31 is a regulator 34, the lower end of which is provided with a depending pointed conical hearing 35 spaced a short distance above the upper end of the valve stem 25 when the valve 181s closed. When liquid under pressure enters at the inlet port 7 and flows through the passage ways 16 into the chamber 23, the liquid will be directed against the vanes 36 of the rotor 27 and on account of the direction given to the liquid by the passageways 16, a force will be exerted on the rotor 27 to lift the same together with the valve stem 25 and thereby open the valve 18 to the extent permitted by the lower end of the extension 35. The rotor 27 will also be rotated together with the valve 18 while the cone 35 acts as a thrust bearing.

By removing thecap 33 the nut 36 may be released and a screw-driver inserted in the transverse slot 37 to adjust the position of the point bearing 35. The extent to which the valve 18 will be opened by the flow of the liquid from the inlet port 7 to the outlet port 8 may thus be regulated. After the adjustment has been. made the nut 36 may be tightened to clamp the screwthreaded rod 34 together with the cone bearing 35 in adjusted position. The cap 33 may then be replaced and sealed to the cap 31 so that no one can change the adjustment without breaking the seal.

When the liquid flows under pressure from the inlet port 7 to the outlet port 8, a small portion of it flows from the chamber 23 through. the spiral passageway formed by the groove 22 and the cylindrical wall engaged by the cylinder 21. While the arrangement may be such as to vary the upper limit of the valve stem 25 so as to appreciably vary the length or" such spiral passageway and thus vary the flow oi the liquid to the nozzle 38, the main purpose of the adjustment of the point bearing 35is to vary the amount of opening of the valve 18 when the liquid flows fromthe inlet port 7 to the outlet port 8. When the flow discontinues, the delivery of the liquid from the nozzle 38 will be discontinued because the rotor 27 and the parts connected thereto will settle by gravity to close the valve 18.

The spiral passageway formed by the groove 22 in the cylinder 21 restricts the flow and therefore the amount of liquid that reaches the chamber 24 for delivery to the nozzle 38. t is desired to secure the delivery of a small quantity of liquid intermittently over long periods of time and to do so consistently. For instance, when liquid is flowing continuously from the port 7 to the port 8 the structure may be adjusted, and operated automatically to deliver one drop of liquid from the needle 19 at half hour intervals.

When such minute quantities of certain liquids, including oil in particular are delivered at long intervals the tendency is for a deposit from the liquid to build up a film in the spiral passageway and on the valve seat 17 which unduly restricts the flow of the liquid or stops it altogether, whereas it is desired to maintain the passageways open and obtain uniform flow so as to assure the delivery of the predetermined quantity of liquid to the parts to be fed by the liquid. The rotation of the cylinder 21 prevents such deposit from the liquid on the walls of the groove 22 since the liquid is being thrown out against the inner wall of the cylinder 12 and the cylinder 21 constantly wipes against the inner wall of the cylinder 12. Furthermore, the rotation of the valve 18 breaks up any film of liquid deposit which may form on the valve seat 17. The rotation of the cylinder 21 and of the valve 18 therefore keeps the inner wall of the cylinder 12 clean and so also the valve seat 17, and the predetermined flow of minute quantities of liquid to the needle 19 is maintained indefinitely.

In Fig. 4 I have shown a means of obtaining a-minute adjustment of the thrust bearing 35 so as to more accurately regulate the extent of opening of the valve 18. Screw-threaded into the top of the body 6 is a support 31' for the screw-threaded adjusting rod 34, the inner end of which. is in the form of a conical needle 39 with its pointed end extending into a recess 40. Fitting in the cylindrical opening 41 in the support 31 is a piston 42 having a spherical top 43 bearing against the underside of the needle 39. To the bottom. of the piston 42 is secured a rod 14, the lower end of which carries the thrust bearing 35'. A spring 15 constantly urges the spherical end 43 against the bottom of the needle 39.

When the cap 33 is removed and the lock nut 36' is released, a screw-driver may be inserted in the transverse slot 37 to adjust the position of the needle 39. For instance, if the needle 39 is drawn toward the right as viewed in Fig. 4, the spring 45 will move the thrust bearing 35 upwardly to enlarge the extent to which the valve 18 may be opened; By moving the spherical head 43 down the bearing 35 may be lowered to decrease the amount of opening of the valve 18. A cap screw 16 is screw-threaded into the top of the support 31' after the-parts have been assembled.

In Fig. 3, I have omitted the spiral passageway formed by the groove 22 and have substituted therefor a plurality of ports 47 in the cylinder 12 which may be integral with the casting 18 which is screw-threaded to the lower end of the cylindrical body 6. The rotor 27 is pinned at 29 to the valve stem 25 and rests against the annular abutment 26 on top of the cylinder 21.

Connecting the conical valve 18 and the bottom of the cylinder 21, is the valve stem 20' of such diameter as to form an annular chamber 49 between the bottom of the cylinder 21 and the valve seat 17 so as to communicate through the ports 47 with the chamber 13 which is in direct communication with the inlet port 7..

It will thus be seen that in the structure shown in Fig. 3 the liquid entering at the port 7' will flow upwardly along the diagonal, passageways between the teeth or vanes 15 and thence into the chamber 23' for flow along the diagonal passageways between the teeth or vanes of the rotor 27. The valve stem 25 together with the valve 18 will be lifted to the extent permitted by the cone bearing 35".

The liquid may also flow from the inlet port 7 directly through the plurality of ports 47 into the chamber 49 and thence downwardly along the valve 18 for drip from the needle point 50.

The position of the bearing 35" may be regulated by removing the cap 51 and loosening the lock nut 52 and then turning the screw head 53 to the desired position. When the proper regulation of the valve opening has been obtained, the lock nut 52 may be clamped in position and the cap 51 replaced and sealed.

The dripping of the liquid from the needle point 50 may be observed through the diametrically placed sight-glasses 54 which may be mounted on the support 48 as shown in Fig. 3, and secured in adjusted position by the ring nut 55. The lower end of the support 48 may be screw-threaded at 56 for connection to the part to be lubricated.

Fig. 5 shows diagrammatically a liquid feed system in which either the structure shown in Fig. l or the structure shown in Fig. 3 may be used. The pulley 57 may be connected to the engine or machine to be lubricated or part to be fed with liquid and the casing 58 may contain a liquid or oil supply tank with a rotary or double plunger pump associated therewith and driven by the pulley 57 to circulate the liquid or oil in the pipe 59 as indicated by the arrows. The lubricator or feed heads may be at isolated points as shown at 6 or the feed heads may be banked into a group as illustrated at 60 and then connected by various branch pipes 61, 61 to the various points where lubrication or liquid feed is desired.

It will readily be seen by referring to Fig. 5 that when the engine or machine being lubricated is connected by the pulley 57 to the oil pump the flow will continue through the pipe 59 so long as the engine or machine is operating. When ever the engine or machine stops the flow in the circulating system will also stop and when this occurs the valve 18 will return by gravity to its closed position. When ever the engine or machine starts up again the fluid pressure will act on the rotors of the various lubricator heads to automatically open the valves to effect delivery of the predetermined quantity of oil to the parts to be lubricated. When the feed unit is used in connection with an intermittent flow the needle valve will be rotated and lifted by each pulsation and will come to rest in closed position between pulsations. In this manner an extremely small discharge of the liquid from the valve can be secured by lengthening the period of time between pulsations. The intermittent flow closed system illustrated in Fig. 5 therefore causes the feed unit to operate as a rotary and jump needle liquid feed device.

Obviously those skilled in the art may make various changes in the details and arrangement of parts without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as defined by the claims hereto appended and I wish therefore not to be restricted to the precise construction herein disclosed.

Having thus fully disclosed an embodiment of my invention, what I desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States is:

1. In a liquid feeding device, the combination of a jump needle valve, and means for jumping said valve to open position and rotating the same while open said valve having means for feeding liquid when rotated.

2. In a liquid feed device, the combination with a rotatably and longitudinally shiftable valve means forming a valve seat, of a rotor having spaced vanes on its periphery extending diagonally relative to the axis of rotation of the rotor, and stationary spaced vanes extending diagonally of the vanes on the rotor to direct fluid flow to the rotor to cause the same to open the valve as well as rotate it said valve having.

means for feeding the liquid through the valve seat.

3. In a liquid feed device, the combination with a valve having liquid feeding means, means for opening said valve and for rotating it to feed liquid, and an adjustable abutment for limiting the extent of opening of said valve said abutment also controlling the liquid feed.

4.. In a liquid feed device, the combination with a valve, of means affording a restricted branch passageway to said valve, means comprising a rotor for opening said valve and rotating it, a supporting body having an inlet port and an outlet port for directing fluid flow to operate said rotor while a minute predetermined quantity of fluid flows through said branch passageway to said valve for delivery to the part to be fed, abutment for limiting the extent of opening of said valve, and adjusting means for said abutment to regulate the quantity of liquid delivered.

5. In a fluid feeding device, the combination of a conduit, means for forcing liquid therethrough under pressure, a branch discharge conduit communicating with said first mentioned conduit, and means turnable and axially bodily shifted by the fluid flow for opening said branch conduit, said means being rotated by the fluid flow and having feeding means for withdrawing liquid from said first mentioned conduit and feeding it through said branch conduit.

6. In a fluid feeding device, the combination of a conduit having a branch discharge conduit, means for forcing fluid under pressure through said main conduit, and means disposed in the path of movement of said fluid flowing through said main conduit for controlling the flow through said branch conduit, said means being shiftable bodily by the fluid flow for opening said branch conduit, and said means being rotatable bodily by the liquid flow for controlling the flow of a predetermined quantity of fluid through said branch conduit without interrupting the flow of fluid through said main conduit.

7. In a device of the class described, the combination of a conduit through which liquid is adapted to be forced under pressure, said conduit having a branch discharge, and a jump needle valve disposed in said discharge, said valve having means constructed and arranged to be operated by the liquid flow through the main conduit for shifting the valve endwise to permit passage of liquid and said needle valve being. bodily rotatable by the liquid flow and having means adapted upon rotation of the valve for positively feeding the liquid.

8. A jump needle valve having means actuated by the liquid flow for rotating and jumping the Valve and having means for feeding liquid when so jumped and rotated.

9. In a device of the class described, the combination of a conduit through which liquid is adapted to flow, means for forcing liquid under pressure through said conduit, means comprising a rotatable spirally grooved member positioned in the path of movement of said iiowing liquid and having other means adapted to be rotated by said liquid whereby to cause the withdrawal of liquid from said conduit, said rotatable member being likewise shiitable bodily by the flow of said fluid for controlling the withdrawal of said fluid.

10. In a liquid feed device for forced feed liquid supply systems, the combination of a casing having a forced feed supply passage, and a passage leading to an outlet, a normally closed valve controlling said outlet, means actuated by the flow of liquid through said supply passage for rotating said valve and for shifting the same axially, said valve having means adapted upon rotation of the valve for feeding liquid through said outlet.

11. In a liquid feed device for a forced feed liquid circuit, the combination of a casing having an inlet connected to said circuit and an outlet connected to said circuit and provided with a feed nozzle, a valve for controlling the flow of liquid from said inlet to said nozzle, said valve having means operable by. the liquid flow to shift it to open position with respect to its seat, and for rotating it with respect to its seat, said valve having associated means operable when rotated and opened for feeding liquid through said outlet.

12. A feed head for liquid distributing system operating under pressure comprising a casing having an inlet and an outlet connected in series in said liquid circuit, said casing having means forming a valve seat and having means forming a connection from the liquid inlet to the valve seat, of a needle valve constructed and arranged by its own weight to normally rest on said seat to close the same, said valve having associated means in the path of movement of the flowing liquid from said inlet to said outlet for shifting said valve from its seat to open position and for likewise rotating said valve, said valve having a spiral feed groove, a portion of which is adapted to communicate with-the flowing liquid and said spiral feed groove being constructed and arranged to feed liquid through said valve seat whensaid valve is open and rotated.

13. A distributing head for liquid systems operating under pressure comprising a casing having an inlet connected to the system and an outlet connected to the system and having a chamber communicating with the inlet and with the outlet, said casing having a nozzle forming a valve seat and having an upstanding barrel-shaped portion provided with stationary vanes, a jump needle valve seated on said valve seat and having a cylindrical part in said barrel-shaped portion, said cylindrical part being provided with a spiral groove communicating with said valve seat and with said chamber, said valve having a plurality of vanes positioned at an angle to the direction of flow to receive the flow of liquid coming from said stationary vanes and whereby to rotate said valve.

14. A liquid distributing head of the character described comprising a casing having an inlet adapted to be connected to a conduit through which liquid is adapted to be fed under pressure and having an outlet adapted to discharge liquid coming from said inlet, said casing having a nozzle provided with an interior passage communieating with the interior of said casing between said inlet and outlet, said nozzle having an inwardly projecting hollow sleeve within said casing, saidsleeve being spaced annularly from the inner'wall of said casing whereby said space is in direct communication with the inlet of said casing, said sleeve at said inlet being provided with substantially spirally arranged vanes, a needle valve having a portion normally closing said nozzle and having a cylindrical portion lying in said hollow sleevepsaid cylindrical portion being provided with a spiral, peripheral groove, one end of which communicates with the chamber of said casing between said inlet and outlet and the other end of which communicates with the nozzle, and a member on said needle valve having spirally arranged peripheral vanes disposed in opposition to the direction of said first mentioned spiral vane and adapted to receive the discharge from said first mentioned vanes whereby to rotate said memher, said casing having an adjustable abutment disposed adjacent that end of the valve which is in the casing for controlling the movement of said valve. v y

15. A feed device for liquid feeding systems under pressure comprising a casing having an inlet and an outlet, and an intervening communicating chamber, said casing having a nozzle including a valve seat and a hollow sleeve-like portion communicating with said seat, said hollow sleeve like portion having a plurality of relatively smali openings circumferentially thereof and communieating with said inlet and having a plurality of stationary, angularly disposed vanes arranged within the path of movement of the liquid flow from the inlet to the outlet, and a needle valve disposed in said sleeve, said valve having a portion adapted normally to seat upon said valve seat and having another portion projecting through said vaned member, said projecting member being provided with a plurality of angular disposed vanes arranged opposite in direction to said first mentioned vanes whereby upon the flow of fluid from the inlet to the outlet, said needle valve will be lifted from and rotated relatively to its seat.

162A feed device for liquid feeding systems under pressure comprising a casing having an inlet and an outlet, and an intervening communicating chamber, said casing having a nozzle including a valve seat and a hollow sleeve-like portion communicating with said seat, said hollow sleeve-like portion having a plurality of relatively small openings circumferentially thereof and communicating with said inlet and having a plurality of stationary, angularly disposed vanes arranged within the path of movement of the liquid flow from the inlet to the outlet, and a needle valve disposed in said sleeve, said valve having a portion adapted normally to seat upon said valve seat and having another portion projecting through said vaned member, said projecting member being provided with a plurality of angular disposed vanes arranged opposite in direction to said first mentioned vanes/whereby upon the flow of fluid from the inlet to the outlet, said needle valve will be lifted from and rotated relatively to its seat, a spring-operated plunger disposed in the path of movement of the needle valve, said spring operated plunger having a minute adjustment formoving it longitudinally against the tension of said spring towards said needle valve.

17. A feed device for liquid feeding systems under pressure comprising a casing having an inlet and an outlet, and an intervening communieating chamber, said casing having a nozzle including a valve seat and a hollow sleeve-like portion communicating with said seat, said hollow sleeve-like portion having a plurality of relatively small openings circumferentially thereof and communicating with said inlet and having a plurality of stationary, angularly disposed vanes arranged within the path of movement of the liquid flow from the inlet to the outlet, and a needle valve disposed in said sleeve, said valve having a portion adapted normally to seat upon said valve seat and having another portion projecting through said vaned member, said projecting member being provided with a plurality of angular disposed vanes arranged opposite in direction to said first mentioned vanes whereby upon the flow of fluid from the inlet to the outlet, said needle valve will be lifted from and rotated relatively to its seat, and an adjustable member disposed in the path of movement of said needle valve in its opening movement for controlling the extent or" said opening movement.

18. In a liquid flow device, the combination of means forming a conduit through which liquid is adapted to flow, means for forcing liquid through said conduit under pressure, a valve adapted to by-pass liquid from said conduit, and means shifted bodily and also turned by the flow of said liquid through said body for positively feeding a small amount of liquid through said valve to a predetermined point.

19. In a liquid feed device for forced feed systems, the combination of a casing having a supply passage connected to said system, said casing having means forming an outlet connected to said passage, a jump needle valve normally closing said outlet, means associated with said valve adapted to be shifted by the liquid flow to open said outlet, and for rotating said valve, said valve having associated means for feeding liquid through said opened outlet when said valve is rotated.

20. In a liquid feed device for constant pressure constant flow liquid circuits through which liquid under pressure is adapted to be forced, the combination of a casing having a supply passage connected .to said system, said casing having an outlet connected with said passage, a jump needle valve normally closing said outlet, said valve having associated means adapted to be operated by the liquid flow for shifting said valve axially to open said outlet, and for rotating said valve, said valve having associated means for feeding liquid through said opened outlet when rotated.

21. In a liquid feeding device, the combination of a supporting body having a liquid passage through which liquid is adapted to flow, a nozzle connected with said passage and through which liquid is adapted to be fed under pressure, a rotatable valve associated with said nozzle, said valve having means for controlling the feeding of liquid through said nozzle when said valve is rotated, means operable by the flow of liquid through said body for rotating the valve and for shifting the same axially to open it.

PAUL B. RENFREW. 

